Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you. I read this and I thought I would pass it along to you. It has a great message. PRAISE GOD!!

Psalm 66:18-19 says...If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, The Lord will not hear, But certainly GOD has heard me;HE has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Meaning if we have unconfessed sin in our heart, the LORD will not hear us. That makes me want to continually examine myself against the SCRIPTURE to see what sin I have within me so I can confess it and ask for forgiveness. Not that I want to focus on sin, but as I spend time with GOD in prayer and SCRIPTURE, I ask HIM to reveal any sin that is within me. Then I know for sure that HE will forgive and attend to the voice of my prayer.

It is bad to be in trouble, but worse to be in trouble with GOD. According to King David, if we are harboring sinful attitudes in our hearts or willfully indulging in sinful activities, we should not expect GOD to respond to our prayers.This is not because GOD doesn't love us. HE does more than we realize. It's not because GOD doesn't want to help us, HE really wants to deliver us. It is simply that a HOLY GOD cannot wink at sin or look the other way. Intimacy with GOD requires honesty, humility, and purity.Attempting to approach GOD without first addressing the ways in which we have knowingly offended and wronged HIM is an exercise in futility. Sin is the "elephant in the room" that must be acknowledged and dealt with. Once we do that, we again enjoy sweet fellowship with GOD. Clean and forgiven, we can be sure he hears our pleas for help. A prayer of GOD's promise:Lord, you do not listen to my prayers when I have unconfessed sin in my life. By your SPIRIT give me the humility I need to take a hard look at my soul. Show me, GOD, any wrong attitudes and actions that I need to acknowledge. I want to be right with you. I want to be close to you. Thank you for pledging to hear those who humble themselves and acknowledge their sin. May my sins, which block me from you when I don't confess them, become a bridge to you as I admit them, forsake them, and experience your forgiveness.